COLUMBUS, Ohio — Conductor and trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, known for his long performing career and leadership of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, has been selected as the 16th recipient of the Raymond J. Hanley Award.
The annual award from the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s (GCAC) Raymond J. Hanley Fund at The Columbus Foundation is given to an artist who has demonstrated a high level of achievement while working at least five years in any arts discipline in Columbus. The award money of $15,000 is given without restriction, so that the artist can use it to further his or her career as needed. The winner is selected by a committee of the GCAC board of trustees.
With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer and actor Byron Stripling (he/him), has ignited audiences internationally. He currently serves as artistic director and conductor of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, principal pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and principal pops conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, and first earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra. He has frequently performed with the Boston Pops under the baton of John Williams and Keith Lockhart, and has conducted the Boston Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic and many others.
His performing career includes appearances at the Grammy Awards and in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as a soloist on the PBS television special “Evening at Pops,” the lead in the Broadway-bound musical Satchmo, and his critically acclaimed performance in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway. He has recorded with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, and in the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson and Buck Clayton.
Stripling will be honored at GCAC’s Big Arts Night on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Southern Theatre and Westin Great Southern Hotel. Guests can visit my.cbusarts.com/7886 to reserve free seats to the event, although tickets are very limited and may sell out.
The Raymond J. Hanley Fund at The Columbus Foundation was created by past chairs of the GCAC board upon Hanley’s death in 2006. It is administered by GCAC and continues the spirit of advocacy, partnership and support for artists that GCAC has encouraged since its inception.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council To champion and elevate the arts and cultural expression of Greater Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, the Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
